Volunteers turn out at ‘secret oasis’

Residents clear invasive plant species in workshop at Headwaters Sanctuary

On Saturday morning, the whir of traffic on U.S. 281 blended with the roar of chainsaws as volunteers worked to preserve a centuries-old forest in the heart of the city.

It’s the Headwaters Sanctuary under the care of Headwaters at Incarnate Word, and more than 30 volunteers spent three hours clearing a non-native species from the urban oasis.

For volunteer field leader Tom Willems, it was one more shift since 2006 at the 53-acre property bordered by the University of the Incarnate Word and the Olmos Dam.

With gloved hands, the 60year-old Willems wielded a chainsaw to slice through ligustrum trees, an invasive species that’s proliferated across the sanctuary. He recalled shearing away a vinyl green wall that covered a chainlink fence that lines the property.

After recent cuttings, Willems was surprised to find that a sprawling oak tree, engulfed by tall shrubs, existed underneath.

“It’s been a labor of love,” he said. “Why bother going to the gym when you can get a workout

out here and do the environment some good at the same time.”

Retirees, families, teen service groups and a Boy Scout troop converged upon the 3-acre Zone 11, an area thick with wild brush, vines and foliage. By noon, volunteers had cleared away a large swath of the clawing plant.

In 2008, the Sisters of Charity

of the Incarnate Word established the Headwaters Sanctuary, a spring-filled land that includes the San Antonio Hole or Blue Hole Spring, also known as the source spring of the San Antonio River.

Last July, an agreement between Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, the Sisters and the

Headwaters nonprofit ensured the property will be protected from real estate development in virtual perpetuity.

Pamela Ball, executive director of the nonprofit, said because of COVID-19, they had to stop the volunteer program in the spring. They resumed in August with a small group of 10, working on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. On weekends they usually have about 20 people; before the pandemic, the cleanup events regularly drew more than 70 volunteers.

On this Saturday, the volunteers were removing the species that had grown into tall, multitrunk trees and blocked out native plants.

“Everything that remains behind will be a native plant — that’s our objective,” Ball said. “In the hope that without the competition of the invasive plants, they will have more sunlight, more water, more access to the soil nutrients that are here and flourish. A healthy, balanced biodiversity is what we’re hoping for.”

She said the sanctuary is on the flyway for migratory birds and butterflies in search of the right plants to sustain themselves.

Ball said they will return to the zone at intervals within three years to monitor any regrowth. The back of her T-shirt read, “Volunteering is in my nature.”

Jay Collins, 68, was among the volunteers who dragged cut limbs and brush across the field of stalks and saplings.

“None of these trails were here,” said Collins a 12year volunteer. “A lot of the trails were created as we bashed our way through the brush.”

Natalie Zavala, 45, lugged a chunk of tree trunk across the field. Her daughter Sofia, 16, and son Nico, 15, pitched in to pull felled bushes and toss them onto piles destined for a dumpster. Zavala said she signed her children up to get outside and do their part to help the environment.

“It’s a nice way to give back,” Zavala said. “Being in the middle of the city is a

gift. It’s like a secret oasis.”

Members of Boy Scout Troop 809 gathered for instructions from Ball after cleaning up debris from a nearby creek. Assistant Scoutmaster Joey Guerra said the troop has taken part in cleanup efforts the past few months.

“It’s been tough to find opportunities to go serve the community in this time, ” he said. “It’s just more difficult. Scouts inherently are conservation-minded. We enjoy the outdoors and we

want to protect (nature) and bring it back to its natural beauty the best way we can.”

Ball said when the project is complete, the nonprofit volunteers plan to shift their focus to other parts of the sanctuary.

“We are considered their earth care ministry in all senses of the word,” Ball said. “As the sisters say, ‘We are part of the overall creation.’ ”

Photos by Robin Jerstad / Contributor Hannah and Marlene Cullum clear ligustrum limbs at the Headwaters Sanctuary on Saturday morning during a workshop and clean-up event to connect with nature and learn more about environmental conservation.

Pamela Ball, executive director of the Headwaters at Incarnate Word, welcomes volunteers at a weekly workshop/clean-up event at the Headwaters Sanctuary just off U.S. 281.

Robin Jerstad / Contributor Tom Willems and Judi Pianta remove a ligustrum stump during a workshop on Saturday morning.